Biz Bits: Just a few thoughts for Christmas ...

Christmas is a time for nostalgia, and just before the big day could be good timing to remember Christmases past.

Here's a few:

Do you remember the reindeer event at Christian and Johnson gifts in Chico?

Years ago, a former owner would "rent" reindeer. A company would make stops around the country with its entourage of reindeer.

Kids would come down and have their pictures taken with the reindeer, which were pretty short creatures. They wouldn't tower over Santa's sleigh as they do in the cartoons. But what strange antlers and fuzzy faces.

According to the E-R coverage, the reindeer were actually from Oregon.

How about the singing Christmas tree that the First Assembly of God Church of Chico used to sponsor?

I used to watch those brave songsters climb what looked to me like a rickety staircase to form the Christmas tree shape. It was outside, and always cold, but those voices! What a lovely sound.

I remember downtown's Christmas Preview night that filled the streets with sounds, sights and smells of the holidays.

There was one performance in particular that I haven't seen for quite a while.

How about those jugglers, who juggled what looked like bowling ball pins on fire? I never saw any dropped by those talented folks. Considering the crowds around the performing area, it's pretty amazing that no hair or hats were set afire.

It would be impossible to talk Christmas and not tip the hat to "Mr. Christmas," the late Don Corrie.

Corrie, whose house was on East First Avenue, would haul out box after box of Christmas lights, decorations, trains, display cases, dolls, animals, Santas and more.

There was no house like the Corries', and wife Jackie would help as well.

But it was Corrie who stood out on the lawn every night, whatever the temperature, handing out candy canes and answering questions about his display that literally covered every inch of his lawn.

The decorating blitz began after the death of his son, who loved Christmas carols and decorating.

Corrie died in 2010, but not before being unofficially knighted Mr. Christmas by the community.

In 1984, someone at the Chico Area Recreation and Park District would write responses to children's letters to Santa.

All parents had to do was drop off the letter at the CARD office, including a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Promised was a letter from Santa and a canceled envelope from the North Pole.

Just a personal note here. I have a cousin who lives in North Pole, Alaska, and while she's from snow country, she's no relation to Santa. Apparently Santa and everything Christmas is a big part of the town's year-round finery.

Of course.

Then in 1985, deep-voiced members of the Paradise Moose Lodge would take calls from area children. The calls were accepted during certain hours, one day a year.

The E-R article included a phone number, which I had to call. Just a regular voice mail message, noting no one was at home and to please leave a message.

Then there were the multitude of letters to Santa via the post office. Requests were many. Cosmetic sets and remote-controlled cars were popular in the early 1980s.

Some letters stood out more than others.

One — bearing a 22-cent stamp — asked Santa how Mrs. Claus was, and then pointed out there was a plate with milk, cookies and celery waiting at his house.

I guess that was a nibble for the reindeer. I used to leave out carrots. Wonder if there was peanut butter involved with the celery, or the topping was upgraded to cream cheese.

Hats off to the trucker who used to douse his semi in yellow Christmas lights so fully that he glowed. Dear readers, I kid you not. I followed him for several blocks trying to get him to pull over so I could interview him.

I'm sure all of you have your stories of Christmas past that could be tugged out and dusted off. Please do.

With all that's wrong with our world, this is a good time to remember there's a lot of good too.